Do you think spanking a child is right or wrong?

Question

I am writing an argumentive essay for a class on child spanking, so I have decided to take my own little poll on what you guys think of it. I really would like your input, as many as I can get. Also, can we please keep it at a clean and calm manner, I have to make a copy of this for class.

Answer 1

I think there are better ways of dealing with 'naughtines' than spanking

Answer 2

Some people say I am oversimplistic. But I strongly believe there is way too little spanking. And what spanking there is, is often done ineffectively.

Although I was spanked as a kid I was convinced in college that it was inappropriate. So I did not at first spank when I had my own kids. To make a long story short--in the course of being a Mom I changed my tune and decided my parents were not so dumb and old fashioned after all.

I know that anectodal stories are not very useful--but that is the major reason I spank--it works for me. I also think it is fairer and less mean than punishments like time outs and groundings. A spanking gets the punishment over and the air is cleared. The other things drag the thing out. I don't want to be a parental jailer. With younger kids I think the whole point of why they are being punsihed is lost. With older kids it is no more of an effective punishment and inspiration to strive for better behavior than jailing adults is.


I think if more parents would spank--and do it correctly--they would be very surprprised by the results they get. And I don't mean for every little thing but not just as a last resort either. The real key to making it work is consistency.

I should also mention all the research that has been done on this subject showing it is bad. These are all statistically flawed. Infact to the surprise of one researchers who surveyed all the research--he found it to be the most effective method of getting children to comply with the wishes of their parents. For more of discusion of this see what some of the research actually says at http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-GgIFACYzfqWx8YwvtspSWVmWzA--?cq=1&p=793

There is a reason parents have been spanking since time immemorial. The anti-spanking movement is very new. And like a lot of new untested ideas I am convinced it is wrong.

Answer 3

Spanking is looked down upon and illegal if the child is really hurt. But I would say that 90% of parents still do it. I think it is a good thing. Kids who were spanked usually end up being good, smart people. I was spanked as a kid everytime I did something bad. I learned from my mistake and never did anything bad again. If I wasn't spanked, I would probably be a spoiled brat who would be cursing and drinking and doing drugs.

Answer 4

Its not as easy as do I think its right or wrong. I think that most parents spank their kids out of frustration and end up doing more damage than good. With my kids (one is 9 and one is 18mo), I use time out (with 18mo) and taking away privilages and giving extra chores (9 year old). I do smack my sons hand when he goes to touch something that will hurt him. I dont smack his hand more than once. I simply smack it hard enough to get his attention, say no, and remove him from the situation. I have never actaully put them over my knee and spanked either one (especially the 18mo, he is just learning right from wrong) not because I am firmly against it but because a situation has never come up that warranted that severe of a punishment. I have been raving mad at my daughter but instead of going off on her immed, I have left the room counted to 10 (sometimes 20) taken a few deep breaths. That calmed me down enough to realize that spanking my daughter would only cause her to fear me and think that I condone such behavior. My feelings on this might stem from the fact that I was in an abusive relationship and my daughter (bless her little heart and shame on me for not leaving earlier) saw some of this violence. By not spanking her and coming up with more creative forms of punishment that tend to have more of an impact, I am showing her that physical violence solves nothing. How can I tell her hitting someone else is wrong and expect her to follow that example when I spank her??

Many people will say that they were spanked and turned out fine but how many times were they spanked for the doing the same thing? (prob more than once) It doesnt really help the situation. Im not one of those parents who condones other parents for spanking thier children but I do condone spanking out of anger. A parent should walk away, calm down, and if spanking the child is all they can come up with for a punishment then its their choice. Leaving marks or bruises or using anything other than a hand is unacceptable to me as well.

You'll prob get a lot of different answers with that question. Im sure its fueled many heated debates over the years.

Answer 5

I have 3 boys and you can guarantee that if they misbehave they are going to get spanked...I'm not talking beat, just a tap on the bottom if need be. It's to the point with my kids that they know what they should and shouldn't do and most times all i have to do is say..."do you want a spanking" and they STOP what they are doing right away, with no other problems. I guess those few spankings i did give them WORKED!!
Some people will say that spanking a child is wrong, or abusive, NO....it's NOT....as long as your not beating your child and leaving marks all over them, then there is no problem with it.

Answer 6

No, I don't think spanking a child is wrong. I do think abusing a child is despeately wrong.
Although my parents insist that they spanked us as kids, none of my siblings nor me remember being spanked. I do remember the time out chair though, where I got to sit and think about what I'd done wrong. When I had the right answer and right attitude, I got to get out of the chair.
All three of my children were raised with the knowledge that repeated disobedience would result in a swat on the behind with the paddle. And I mean, a swat. A pop that made more noise than caused injury. We dealt more specifically in why they chose to misbehave and made consequences for their disobedience. They are all likable and well adjusted (as well as well loved) adults.
PS to MikkiST: You go girl!!

Answer 7

I think that at times, under extreme circumstances a spanking would be in order, but only when the child has really done it. I also believe that you should warn the child: "If you do this you will get a spanking"

Answer 8

Were all CEOs spanked? The study sample is only 20 people, so that's not a legitimate 'study' population.

However, Lots of Americans spank and CEOs are aggresive, ruthless, sonsaguns, so it's not too surprising. Did you know everyone in prison for violence has been spanked, too?

I think spanking a child is always wrong because spanking is not necessary to guide a child to responsible, polite self-discipline - the goal of every parent, for the child must leave one day. Because spanking has been shown to lower iq, create aggression and resentment in a child so punished, and because spanking doesn't usually change behavior, it is wrong to use spanking. Because spanking violates the fundemental trust between parent and child, it is wrong to spank. Because spanking teaches that someone who loves you can hurt you, spanking is wrong. Many people who argue in favor of spanking and point to 'the collapse of society' are overlooking the fact that most Americans spank. Surveys find 65 - 87% of Americans spank. The collapse of society has more to do with massive change in social roles, day care, and the mind-numbing effects of tv.

Child learn from loving guidance and need a foundational relationship with a mommy who is reliable, loving, and a good role model herself. When children are strongly attached to mommy, best accomplished by human milk on demand for at least two years and no separation from mommy of more than an hour here and there for the first five years, this children are independent (counter-intuitive to some) and eager to please mommy and daddy - and by extension, those mommy and daddy identify as others to listen to.

The book "How to Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk" puts forth a beautiful alternative to violence in parenting. It's an alternative that strengthens the family, strengthens mom and dad's position in the family, and helps children grow capable of taking charge of their own lives.

When a child solves a problem facing him by figuring out what to do to not get hit, he is not really solving the problems before him, and his parents have missed the greatest opportunity for growth and development.

Answer 9

yes i think it is right when the child deserves it. i think society though has sabotaged how u are allow to discipline your child. u are only allowed to spank ur kid with a open hand on the butt. per CYS, otherwise its considered child abuse. Hear is how i feel, about that all these 20 yr old college educated ppl, telling you that its child abuse otherwise. THEY HAVE NO RIGHT. If there is truly a child that is abused and needs counseling and protection then that is what they should be concerned with, otherwise if the child is pulling a temper tantrum and just don't want to listen and the parents are afraid to correct there kids cause cys is going to be called then THEY SHOULD HAVE TO BEAR THAT kid and deal with the behavior problems that they will have, cause they do not have a grounded behavior pattern when they are 2 and 3 yr old and how to listen to directions and listen to nooooooo. I feel that until they bear a kid and deal with that kid 24/7 then they can tell a parent how to be a parent and how to correct their child and tell then to only hit with a open hand.

Answer 10

When you hit a child you teach a child that it is ok to use physical force, and that you being the "big" person have power over him, the "little" person.

Also, think back when someone hit you? I don't care who it was, didn't it create a resentment?

Also, corporal punishment only teaches the child better ways to AVOID detection to their misdeeds. Who wouldn't do whatever it took to avoid being hit? Self preservation is an inbred response. So the child is going to learn a skill, lying. Which is not the purpose of discipline.

Standing a child in a corner for one minute per year old they are is by far a better form of discipline. The child is "deprived" of the activity and interaction they so desperately crave.

Hope you do well on your paper.

Peace.

Answer 11

Spanking is OK but beating is not. Spanking should be done to get the child's attention and make him obey you. This is a last resort. It is better for a parent to be strict and un yielding in terms of punishment.